Nonetheless and as noted earlier, too many children and young people were still spending too long in conditions which could adversely affect their health and wellbeing, retrigger traumatic events, and damage relationships in the residences. The evidence suggests that the potential for harm may even be worse for Mäori children. An Evidence Report on Therapeutic Residential Care prepared by Oranga Tamariki concluded that ‘Seclusion is not effective in reducing either the frequency or intensity of challenging behaviour with children and adolescents. Rather, seclusion has been shown to increase the risk of serious physical harm, and even death, with children. For children with trauma-related histories, the experience of seclusion is re-traumatising, making therapeutic goals more difficult to attain. Staff experience of seclusion is also negative, causing stress, psychological trauma, and spiritual trauma among Mäori practitioners. The use of seclusion can be significantly reduced, and even eliminated, through programmes that address staff management, and provide staff training in alternative methods of behavioural management for young people with challenging behaviours.’ (Oranga Tamariki (2020). Therapeutic Residential Care: Evidence Brief, Wellington, New Zealand: Oranga Tamariki – Ministry for Children. February 2020, at page 37). I wholeheartedly agree with this analysis. As noted in Thinking Outside the Box? secluding children and young people is harmful to their health and wellbeing and can further traumatise them and damage their development and healing. It also runs contrary to international human rights law and principles of good practice. Reasons for the use of Secure Care in Youth Justice facilities and in Care & Protection residences The majority of Secure Care placements in the Youth Justice facility examined were recorded as ‘threats to assault’ or ‘threatening behaviour’. Preventing self-harm was cited as the reason for the placement of Secure Care in around 15% of placements. In many cases, several reasons were cited. For example, one 16-year-old was placed in Secure Care 17 different times in the course of 6 months, spending periods of 1-3 days each of these times for threats to selfharm, low mood and actual self-harm, and one period of 17 days for ‘making 31